An Analysis of the Delivery System of the Adult Basic Education Program.

Ellis, Jeanine

Since its inception 20 years ago, adult basic education (ABE) has been implemented successfully at the state and local levels. The statute that originally authorized ABE has proven successful largely because of three factors--its tractability, its ability to structure implementation, and its success in gaining both sovereign and media support because of its responsiveness to socioeconomic conditions. Despite its successes, however, the ABE delivery system is not without constraints or problems. For example, ABE delivery has been plagued by a lack of resources, by an inappropriate popular perception of ABE as a continuation of the regular school program, by difficulties in recruiting and retaining students, and by the necessity of abiding by various K-12 policies that must be followed not because they are relevant to ABE but because ABE is typically offered in regular school settings. In addition, changes in the administration of ABE has resulted in a loss of federal technical assistance and a loss of leadership in state and local ABE programming. On the positive side, ABE is a very cost-effective program that has resulted in an economic return rate of four to one by providing the training necessary to remove persons from welfare and place them into taxable income-generating jobs. In addition, ABE is credible, with numerous success stories to provide testimony to its true impact. (MN)